Reviews (page 5 of 14)
Amazing samples, yes it may be a bit shouty but that's what the beastie boys are. Great fun album to listen to.
One of the group that expanded the hip- hop. The sampling, the rymhes, the inspiration to the future mc.
Not my favorite Beastie Boys album but I still liked it.
Ну що ж? Принаймні я вже начуваний про їхній стиль)
Without a doubt beastie boys best album and should be a starting point for anyone looking to get into them. As timeless in 2026 as it was when it came out.
I never really gave the Beastie Boys much attention. I heard a song growing up, didn't like it, and moved on. Now, I'm in my mid-30s and gave this a listen. And I must say, it's really built my respect for the band. Their use of early sampling, groovy bass lines, and a mix of genre-bending elements made this a pretty fun trip. This may not be their most well-known record, but considering early hip-hop, this is a milestone venture. This was fun. I didn't think I'd enjoy this as much as I did.
De Beastie Boys houden van een rommeltje. En dan is dit nog een album zonder andere muziekgenres. Ze vinden het niet zo erg om net niet in harmonie op de opname terecht te komen, een woordje hier en daar in te slikken of willekeurig van (muzikaal) thema te wisselen. Voldoende munitie dus om het album af te branden. Maar het werkt ook wel. Het lijkt hun strijd voor een ongeforceerd feestje. Zoals een DJ in de feesttent na 30 seconden weer een ander plaatje start, houdt het het luisteren interessant. Om aan te sluiten bij die feestsfeer, komen geregeld wat kinderlijke melodieën en muzikale referenties voorbij. Terwijl ze in hun spontaniteit ook hele geinige muzikale snippets voorbij laten komen, soms door afwisselende samples, soms door de manier waarop ze elkaar afwisselen. Daardoor zetten ze er toch een handtekening onder die niet makkelijk te vervalsen is.
Hey, de Beastie Boys staan ook in de snoblijst, wat leuk. Met een album dat ik niet ken. Is dit dan het enige album? Nee, we krijgen ook nog Licensed to Ill en Ill Communications. En dat allemaal in de laatste 100 plaatjes. Gek genoeg ontbreekt Hello Nasty, al is dat misschien omdat dat te commercieel is voor de snobs? Dit album heeft voor mij geen bekende hits, maar wel heel veel bekende samples. Uit het verleden, maar ik herken ook iets van de Chemical Brothers en die waren toch echt later. Al zou het best kunnen dat de Beastie Boys dat ook weer gesampled hebben. De lijst op wiki is zo te zien niet volledig, want ik herken toch echt 1 op 1 "Superfly" in het nummer "Egg Man" en dat wordt niet vermeld op de wiki. Dat ze dat nummer hebben gebruikt, geeft al aan dat er veel lekkere funky beatjes en baslijntjes onder de (inmiddels) bekende rapstijl van de Beastie Boys zitten. Het is op dit album ook vnl rap en afgezien van "Looking down the barrel of a gun" horen we amper tot geen gitaren. Wel dus de bekende rap, waarbij ze op elkaar lijken te reageren of elkaar aanvullen. De Staat heeft hier in NL duidelijk de mosterd gehaald bij deze plaat. Voor mij is dit dus het minst bekende album, maar wiki spreekt van de Sgt Peppers van de hip-hop. Dat zijn nogal grote woorden. Ik heb daar veel te weinig overzicht van binnen de hiphop, maar ik vond dit zeker wel vermakelijk om te luisteren. Qua rating vind ik het dan weer lastig inschatten, daarvoor zou ik eigenlijk ook de andere 2 noteringen in de lijst willen luisteren. Ik schat deze nu in op een 3,5 en ik druk op de 4 sterren.
Not there best but still really good
great album that doesn't appeal to my personal tastes so much, there are other beastie boys albums I like more than this one and I'm just not obsessed with beastie boys in general tbh
Very good record, absolutely comes off as a historical classic. I think I'd need these tracks to stick a little better in my mind for me to give this a fiver, but it's not at all far off.
Good flow, great production and samples
These guys are just pure, unadulterated fun and goofiness, you can't help but just accept the absurdness of the lyrics; it was refreshing to not take music so seriously for once on this journey. The opportunities to just smile and laugh have been rare on this journey so far, so I gotta give it to the Beastie Boys. The album seems to get better at introducing more instrumentation as time goes on which, in turn, elevates the quality of it too. "Shake your Rump", "Johnny Ryall", "High Plains Drifter", "The Sounds of Science", "Looking Down The Barrel of a Gun" and "Shadrach" were all killer tracks. Then came the B-Boy Bouillabaisse section of the album and, admittedly, I was still super impressed by this. "Get on the Mic" was fun, The instrumentation on "A Year and A Day" was incredible, "Lay It On Me" had a juicy bassline and "A.W.O.L" use of the Chic sample into that grimey beat was great too. Despite all this praise for it, something holds me back from giving it the top grade, as something is missy that I can't quite put my finger on it.
Cool production, great samples, and a style that straddles the line of not-taking-themselves-too-seriously and dropping bombs. This album had a lot to like on it and I'd love to get more from the Boys.
A massive improvement over Licensed to Ill soundwise, love these beats! On the other hand, nothing here is nearly as memorable as the best songs there. But I care way more about the production when it comes to late-80s hip-hop, so that's not too huge a problem, honestly.
I don't think I like this quite as much as Licensed to Ill or Ill Communication. However it is still diverse, catchy and very fun to listen to. Apparently the hook on Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun isn't a sample but a Beastie Boys original. This group is very good.
Despite being a huge hiphop fan, I've never gotten super into Beastie Boys. I know they have some classic tracks, but just hasn't hit that sweet spot for me. Looking at this track list, I didn't recognize many of the hits I'm familiar with. Just "Hey Ladies." "Shake Your Rump" is classic Beastie type flow, with trading off verses word for word. That was their schtick for sure. Love the Mayfield sample in "Egg Man." A few tracks I find mildly annoying. I think it's just their rhyme schemes, which at the point this album came out, are sounding pretty dated--just one syllable rhymes for the most part. I mean, Rakim had already complicated rap by this point, and like Chuck D says, it would never be the same again. Beastie Boys just didn't get the message. But despite this being one of my gripes with Beastie Boys in general--their lack of lyrical prowess--it didn't really bother me much in this album outside a couple of tracks. I think the problm often comes when they have very simple boom bap beats--their lyricism and flow can't really carry them through a near acapella soundscape like it could better rappers. But usually, beats are more elevated than Licenced to Ill. Tracks like What Goes Around show a funkier side to Beastie Boys than before. I love B-Boy Bouillabaisse. 4/5
My unsorted thoughts across this album looked something like this: Man, that ‘Psycho’ score sample on “Egg Man” is so cool. Man, that Beatles’ “The End” sample on “The Sounds of Science” is so cool. Man, this “Hey Ladies” song has crazy sample work, and it’s somehow less misogynistic than “3-Minute Rule”. Man, that Pink Floyd’s “Time” sample on “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun” is so cool. Man, this is fun to listen to, but I also still sometimes feel like I’m being harangued at at a party. What a shame you can’t sample like this anymore.
Good album, reminds me of my dad :)
For all the groundbreaking beats on this album the rapping and lyrics aren ‘t of the same stellar standard.
Buff, el album raro de los Beastie Boys. Qué joven y qué tonto era cuando me compré este disco. Oído ahora me doy cuenta de que en muchos aspectos el espíritu de "Ill communication" ya estaba aquí. Me he guardado: Eggman, Hey ladies, Looking down the barrel of a gun, Shadrach y de los B-Boy Bouillabaisse: A year and a day, Hello Brooklyn y Dropping names.
It’s all vibes, I couldn’t tell you what any of the songs are about, I even listened hard. But I think it’s just supposed to be little details and verses picked out over amazing samples?
Good hip hop album. The sampling is done really well and the wide variety of genres sampled is nice.
Brilliant
Sampledelia magic
Just a good time. This boys are going places
Very creative
So much in hip-hop depends on matching the sonic environment to the lyrics. This record is a masterclass in sampling.
This was a crazy leveling up, and nearly 40 years later, it remains as vibrant as ever. There are probably hundreds of better rappers, but no one has ever had as much fun rapping as Mike D, Ad-Rock & and MCA.
Great! Daft, funny lyrics. Bit different to my usual go to listening. Must have been an administrative nightmare getting the clearance on all the samples.
I hate being white and falling into the stereotype of enjoying Beastie Boys, it’s just fun energetic hip hop with great flow and iconic beats to suit.
This is a class below their other albums on this list, HOWEVER, the Beastie Boys are just straight awesome. Great sampling, great rapping, and an amazing flow that make for an enjoyable listen.
It was really good I liked the funk style.
The rhymes are more polished and the energy more refined. Sure the presence of Rick Rubin is missed, but these boys are still Beastie.
The Beastie Boys have such an incredibly unique sound. It’s a great mix of genres and styles.
An achievement, and one that would cement the Beastie Boys as more than just a gag.
Paul's Boutique was named after a fictitious downtown thrift store, which was the perfect symbol for what the group was doing musically and stylistically. It was cobbled together from over a hundred different samples, which was absolutely unheard of at the time
The Beasties are top 5 all-time hip hop group (w/ NWA, WuTang, Public Enemy, and fight over the 5 spot). This is their . . . influential album? The fancy one with the samples? I don't know. Not my favorite, not the breakthrough, and not the one with all the hits.
Its the Beast - ie - Boys! I can't complain!
Very funky.
very fun but would love it to be less repetitive, and i especially liked the b-boy bouillabaisse songs
Strong 3,5
Well that's a lot of fun
Fuck yeah this album is so much fun
Good album from some of the all time goats! 7.6/10
Ladies and gentlemen, here to lay down some old, old, incredibly old school beats: The Beastie Boys! Leela: Impressive. They're busting mad rhymes with an 80% success rate. Bender: I believe that qualifies as ill. At least from a technical standpoint.
Really important hip hope record. It’s the Dust Brother’s work that really sets it apart but the Beastie Boys add a lot of fun to it. Rating: 4.0
Great album through and through.
surprisingly good for hip hop made by white guys ! reminds me of public enemy the way they play off each other.
This was a really good one that I will definitely come back to. It's a high four stars for me, and one I could see hitting five with more repeat listens. The beats and production are incredible, and the Beasties' rhymes are as fun as they always are.
Beastie Boys are a slow burner for me. Production and samples are top notch, but vocal delivery is still a bit questionable at times for me (verging on annoying). But this was a second listen to Paul's Boutique, and I'm coming to appreciate the brilliance.
Ahhh to be by the water in New York jamming to this album. I can see how their call-and-response influenced hip hop and artists like Eminem
I truly and honestly do not think this is the Beastie Boys best album, I think Ill Communication is better, but the one thing this album does have, is the best samples. The production is INSANE. lol at people thinking they just shout.
3 white dudes from NYC created one of the first experimental hip hop albums, sampling from all over the place to create the songs. It never hit the level of [[License To Ill]] but as time has gone on, this album keeps getting better.
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? I know a couple songs How do I feel about this artist? I’ve been wanting to listen to more Beastie Boys lately Favorite song(s)? Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun, High Plain Drifter Overall Thoughts: I love fun, energetic music like this. I don’t care if they’re shouting at me I like it. Apparently this is the style of hip-hop that I like because I also like Run-DMC. The various samples were super fun.
Amazing, start to finish, all killer no filler. And so many samples, but it doesn’t feel like too much. Well done, boys!
Somehow, despite years of listening to the Beastie Boys, I have never listened to this album. While I would not call it their best, it was definitely important in their quest for hip hop domination. Their unique stylings and group dynamic are all present here with fun beats and humorous lyrics. They truly were a unique group. We miss you MCA!
This is so much fun. I don't understand the hate the Beastie Boys get sometimes. It isn't complex or anything, but it is so fun. It knows what it is and it is so fun and not serious! "5-Piece Chicken Dinner" is so funny Liked Songs: "Shake Your Rump" , "Egg Man" , "High Plains Drifter" , "Hey Ladies" , "5-Piece Chicken Dinner" , "Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun" , "Car Thief" , "Shadrach" , "Get On The Mic" , "A Year And A Day" , "Hello Brooklyn"
This album changed my opinion on the Beastie Boys… I thought they were an angry NSYNC, when they are actually funky-but-ignorant Rage Against the Machine. I much prefer the latter. The run of songs Car Thief/What Comes Around/Shadrach singlehandedly bumped this from 3 to 4
While some of their more popular songs show an immature quality the Beastie Boys Albums rarely disappoint and this one is a classic. While not the pure intelligent rhyming of a Public Enemy, Tupac or Ice Cube they have an energetic quality that makes music fun. This one is a 5 if ever there was one for fun white boy rap but in the history of music I couldn't justify a 5.
Gnowwatamsayingd
Loooove it
Lin Manuel Miranda listened to this album and then wrote Hamilton. This fact is not real but they sound like Hamilton. Anyways it’s really fun and silly little album
"The best in men's clothing Call Paul's Boutique, ask for Janice The number is 718-498-1043 That's Paul's Boutique, and they're in Brooklyn"
A lot of fun I'm going to listen to this one again for sure
Now that is some original stuff right there. Such a refreshing contrast compared to the Eminem crap of the previous release this list served up for me. This is a pretty good unicorn chaser to follow that.
I have a lot of respect and love for Beastie Boys. I've listened to them a ton at my teens, and it's always a blast to hear them again. Very cool, very innovative, and still feels fresh - even after all those years.
Though it does start to sound repetitive after a little while, this is undeniably great. Intense and full of energy, you can't help but get caught up in how excited they were to be doing what they're doing. Once again, wish I could have been into this at the time. But they still sound like obnoxious pricks on this album. 3.51 stars.
Every time I listen to a Beastie Boys album I think that I should really listen to them more often. This isn't my favorite of there's but damn it's good.
Such a fun listening experience, it's sample overload! So many layers to the production, and it's quite experimental mixed with their raw and fun energy. Best song: Egg Man Worst song (excluding interludes): 3-Minute Rule Cover check: Looks like a messy store you can find anything in, just like the music
Beastie Boys ei lase mööda. Siit on tulnud nii palju inspiratsiooni muule hip-hopile ja tüübid oskasid teha lugusid nii, et lihtsalt tekib vaib koguaeg kaasa õõtsuda. 4.1/5
“Shake Your Rump” and “Hey Ladies” are both classic songs on this second album by Beastie Boys. “Where It’s At” by Beck reminds me of “Hey Ladies” with how the samples are set up.
Man, I love me some Beastie Boys. I have owned several BBs albums and am not above quoting some of their songs. That being said, I don’t know that I’d ever heard this album. It has that iconic Beastie Boys sound and I’d probably listen to it again. But I don’t think it’s as strong as some other albums by them. I believe this was more about the influence the album had and about the evolution of a specific sound. Album 36, April 3, 2026
Я бы с радостью послушал инструментальную версию альбома, ибо семплирование здесь на каком-то запредельном уровне.
Hip-hop, sampledelia.
So good.
I did not expect the Beastie Boys to make this type of music. I am unfamiliar with their game.
Dejligt
Что-ж, ещё один альбом Beastie Boys в рамках челленджа "1001 альбом". Я скоро буду бить музыкальных журналистов комично огромным молотом, за их способность нарекать каждый десятый коллектив "вторыми" Битлз, или, как в случае с "Paul's Boutique" нарекать альбом "Сержантом Пеппером от мира хип-хопа" ... Господи, иисусе... Впрочем, это не вина коллектива, но для вступления решил все же об этом сказать. Альбом достаточно неплохой, хотя Ill Communication показался мне более оригинальной, интересной и состоятельной работой. В этом же случае, достаточно интересный прецедент, который позволил парням использовать семплы многих легендарных записей почти за бесценок. В частности, как раз таки, семпл из Sgt. Pepper по крайней мере в одной песне. Уважаемые музыкальные журналисты, ЕСЛИ В АЛЬБОМЕ ИСПОЛЬЗУЕТСЯ СЕМПЛ ИЗ СЕРЖАНТА, ЭТО НЕ ЗНАЧИТ ЧТО АЛЬБОМ СРАЗУ ЖЕ ОТ ЭТОГО СТАНОВИТСЯ "СЕРЖНАТОМ ОТ МИРА %жанр_нейм%" Спасибо! А так, нормально. 4 из 5.
Aside from the weird opening track (which feels a bit problematic to modern ears), this is a banger of a record. Favourite tracks: Shake Your Rump, Johnny Ryall, High Plains Drifter, the Sounds Of Science, Car Thief.
It's such a musical leap forward from Licensed To Ill that it is kind of unbelievable. So much more colourful, varied and clever. Excellent.
Very Good.
Kind of interesting to think about these guys' place in rap history. In the same era of rap as Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, and Eric B. & Rakim, you have four white guys sampling The Beatles. I still prefer all 3 of the former, but it's not a super distant 4th place. What these guys have over all 3 of them is how dang creative they are with the beats. Nobody else was making 12 minutes worth of throwing random records on a turntable and making it work in one song in 1989. I feel like they were going for recognizability in the sample choices over anything else, but that could very well be because they're white and their record collection reflects that so it's all they had. I loved the samples in Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun, it was Rage Against the Machine-like for when it came out. The lyrics in basically all of the songs weren't really much to write home about, but I liked the three guys passing the bars around a lot.
If you played all but one song, maybe two, from this album them on their own they wouldn't do much for me, but when I play the whole album it provides an excellent vibe that I really enjoyed. As some have mentioned, the sampling on here is pretty amazing and if I understand right they actually got the rights to use most of it. This is an excellent album.
Some of the most annoying voices ever recorded, but the production is just so insanely good.
4/5
Classic
Amazing
A lyrical banquet. Delicious.
#relisten
The more mature Beastie Boys. Some complain that this is too far from their gritty rap roots, but I disagree, as this to me feels like they've grown into their sound and are choosing more varied styles to sample. It shows they've leveled up, so to speak.
"A year and a Day" is an example where this album shows its age a little but largely that theme is almost entirely absent. Its relevant today as it was then and the feast of sampling overlayed by the "Scooby Doo" rap actually works really well. Unlike Licenses to Ill its much more refined and less like a hip-hop jack hammer. I have unusually been drawn to the Beastie Boys mainly because they were significant operators in the 90's but also they had a more heavy / rock infused sound which I gravitated towards. I was surprised how much there was in this. The sounds are so diverse and found myself amused by the lyrics as odd snaps caught my attention. "Humpty dumpty is a fat egg" and "Which came first, the chicken or the egg? / I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg".
I really enjoyed this, loads of samples that I recognised that have been used in other songs. It's albums like this that have gone on to influence some amazing music, whilst also being a great album in its own right. 4/5 for me.
White A Tribe Called Quest
Fun album and great era for the Beasties. Favorite tracks: Shake Your Rump, Johnny Ryall, Hey Ladies
The only good white rappers
Pros: - Great production - Sample abuse - Nice flow/vocals - Ahead of its time/Influential Cons: - Completely terrible mixing Rating (out of 10): 8/10
Just a fun album, the Boys are maturing their sound compared to the snot-nosed punks that released License to Ill, incorporating samples from just about everywhere, from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin to the Isley Brothers and even 20 seconds from the Deliverance soundtrack. Copyright law sure was played fast and loose in the early days of hip-hop wasn't it?
One of the dumbest openers in musical history gives way to Andy Samberg and that other guy rapping about their lazy Sunday. That's what this is, right? Sometimes when something has been parodied, the lines between parody and original begin to blur. This phenomenon worsens when you possess the brain of a dementia-addled octogenarian with the attention span of a caffeinated toddler (me). This album possesses the sincere silliness that the anxiety-ridden youth of today would refer to as "cringe." I did find myself uncomfortable occasionally as well. Earnest expression is out folks. Caring? Forget that. Don't you want to be uninterested in life and cool until you die having experienced or achieved nothing?? We're all on a conveyor belt to the grave. A simple step to the left or right would spare you that fate, but the person ahead of you on the belt might laugh. Choose wisely. Where was I? IS there better hip-hop? Absolutely. Still, this album is incredibly heavy and frankly, extremely likeable. I kind of thought they were annoying to start but this grew on me in a major way. Trailblazing beats/samples, lots of energy, and boundless creativity. YUCK! Give me apathetic soundscapes disguised as "vibes" and string up my LED lights. While you're at it, maybe fashion me a noose. 3.5-4 HIGHLIGHTS: Johnny Ryall, Hey Ladies, Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun,
I wouldn’t say I dislike hip-hop, but I do find it difficult to stay engaged with a full album; it usually works better for me a few songs at a time. Because of that, I only own a handful of hip-hop records, including the Beastie Boys' "The Sounds of Science" compilation. For me, that's how I enjoy them. "Paul’s Boutique" is certainly well-produced; it’s clear, funky, and the samples are genuinely interesting. The music underneath is consistently strong, especially the Beatles samples on the track "The Sounds of Science"- very cleverly done, but the repetitive nature of the rapping eventually wears me down. It’s a fun listen, and a very good album but it doesn't quite reach a five-star rating for me. Side A 1 "To All the Girls" (4/5) 2 "Shake Your Rump" (5/5) 3 "Johnny Ryall" (4/5) 4 "Egg Man" (4/5) 5 "High Plains Drifter" (3/5) 6 "The Sounds of Science" (5/5) 7 "3-Minute Rule" (3/5) 8 "Hey Ladies" (5/5) Side B 9 "5-Piece Chicken Dinner" (3/5) 10 "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun" (5/5) 11 "Car Thief" (4/5) 12 "What Comes Around" (4/5) 13 "Shadrach" (5/5) 14 "Ask for Janice" (3/5) 15 "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" a. "59 Chrystie Street" (0:57) (5/5) b. "Get on the Mic" (1:14) (3/5) c. "Stop That Train" (1:59) (4/5) d. "A Year and a Day" (2:22) (4/5) e. "Hello Brooklyn" (1:32) (3/5) f. "Dropping Names" (1:03) (5/5) g. "Lay It on Me" (0:54) (4/5) h. "Mike on the Mic" (0:48) (3/5) i. "A.W.O.L." (1:46)" (4/5) Total - 92.00 Average - 4.00 254/1001 138/254 albums reviewed were new to me
It took me a long time to appreciate the Beastie Boys. I’m glad my first listen to this album was now and not back when I was a hater. This deserves repeat listens with the lyric sheet nearby.
I wanna give this a 3, but it's a 4.
Sonically interesting, would have been 5 stars for an instrumental version of the album.
Great hip-hop album with funky seventies samples.
3.9/5 Stars Top Songs: Shadrach, Egg Man, Johnny Ryall
Beastie Boys at their best. Excellent production, the samples are excellent, the beats are great, and their vocal delivery is on point in their own, very recognizable way.
There is something to say about how wild this production is. It is also a perfect transition fro m 80's styles / aesthetics to the 90's with the crazy scratching/sampling.
Album muito interessante do Beastie Boys
headboppers, i liked it.
Uit mijn comfort-zone, maar ik vind de rock en hip-hop mix leuk klinken. De oudere klank vanuit de jaren '90 klinkt ook goed met hun stemmen. De eerste liedjes vond ik leuker, vervolgens werden het te vreemde teksten. De laatste korte nummers waren leuk om te luisteren, maar ze hadden niet veel replay-value. Op dit moment (track 13): 7-
To All the Girls - 3.5/5 Shake Your Rump - 4/5 Johnny Ryall - 4/5 Egg Man - 4/5 High Plains Drifter - 3.5/5 The Sounds of Science - 4/5 3-Minute Rule - 4/5 Hey Ladies - 4.5/5 5-Piece Chicken Dinner - 3.5/5 Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun - 4.5/5 Car Thief - 4/5 What Comes Around - 3.5/5 Shadrach - 4.5/5 Ask for Janice - 3.5/5 B-Boy Bouillabaisse - 5/5 It's a surprisingly fun time when a group of the whitest boys you know (no not the comedy group) casually drop rhymes that include NPB legend Sadaharu Oh. The sampling is also incredible, laying the groundwork for future albums to mix and match sounds like they have. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Hey Ladies, Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun, Shadrach, B-Boy Bouillabaisse
Back in 1989 I was very active in the album collecting phase of my life. I was also active in reading about new releases and very interested in what the critics said were the albums I needed to listen to. Paul's Boutique was one of those albums. I strongly disliked Licensed to Ill, so I was suspect about picking this up. I did get it and listened. I respected what they were doing, mainly musically and in the overall production of the album. I still found that they were annoying at times, but much less so than on their debut. I was looking forward to jumping into this today, and mostly I was glad to give it another listen after all these years. I laughed at many of the same rhymes as I did back then, and it was great to hear some of the references from back then. They were very witty and the production holds up as top notch. It did get a bit tiring towards the end, but not to the point where it took away from my overall enjoyment of the record. It wasn't a five star album for me back then, and still isn't today, but it's a solid four.
This is pretty damn fun. The beats and basslines are pretty awesome. Respect to the emcees for the gift that they have bestowed on us
Memories
Now I am suddenly feeling the urge to breakdown and rebel against the system!
Was jokingly going to say "hip-hop for middle class white kids" but that would be a disservice to the Beastie Boys here. This is an excellent album with immaculate sampling. I know a lot of people dislike their shouty-NY style, but it works for me for some reason.
The boys took their earnings from Licensed to Ill and bought themselves a Minimoog and a 909. :-) I remember when this came out we all were surprised that it actually had some depth, as opposed to the white youngin' party rap of the previous. Infectious grooves and some sweet sampling, and what I consider to be one of the best recorded examples of what a Moog filter sounds like. Anyhew super fun.
Absolutely gas, not the most lyrically deep but some great tracks and fun instrumentals.
Well, I'm Mike D, and I'm back from the dead! I love this album/band so much when I was in NYC I made a pilgrimage to Beastie Boys Square where the album cover photo was taken. Samples and shouting yeah that is what makes up this album and it totally rules. The album itself is just end to end fun. While Licensed to Ill has the hits and individual tracks that I listen to more I prefer Paul's Boutique as an album experience. Playlist track: Shake Your Rump
Very solid BB record. Not a favorite of mine but a historic one at that.
Surprisingly a lot mote nuance than you'd expect. Arguably better than their debut.
these white boys have swag
As has been said 4 billion times the production on this is unbelievable and makes this such a fun album to listen to. My favorite moment is when you hear 'Mississippi Queen' for .5 seconds in 'Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun.'
Not quite as iconic as License to Ill, but a worthy follow-up. You can really hear how they've refined their sound. It's much more polished in this album. Hey Ladies is still one of my favorites, and will be making the playlist.
Solid offering from the Boys.
Game changing. I slept on this for years because I hated License to Ill so much. I could not fathom that those Jabronis could make a genre defining monster of a record. The Dust brothers were so good at the sample game that they ended up breaking the whole system.
Oh hell yeah. The Beastie Boys are back again with another certified banger of an album. Ok, there are quite a few interesting things about this album that I want to bring up, and I want to mention them all real quick. First, this is an album made mostly hand in hand with The Dust Brothers, an artist that I’ve already rolled once for this project and thoroughly enjoyed listening to. They mostly work within the bounds of the Electronica genre, so seeing them collab with the Beastie Boys was quite surprising to me. The album is mostly comprised of an overwhelming amount of samples. This gets to be so ridiculous on some tracks that looking up a list of samples on some songs like “Egg Man” shows an entire list that contains a mix of The Beatles, and songs simply including the word egg in them. That’s extremely funny and clever to me, because they still manage to make it work out fairly well. Next, I’m very familiar with the Beastie Boys. Licensed to Ill, which I’ve already rolled for this project, and Ill Communication, which I’m really excited to roll, I am very familiar with from top to bottom. I’ve never heard of a single one of these songs up until today, and I can’t fathom why. Is this album as good as the previously mentioned albums?? In my opinion, no, it’s a little too bloated and the songs aren’t all that memorable, but it’s still the Beastie Boys, and it’s still a high 4. The songs might not all stick with me, but I love a good album of just deep cuts. It’s not a bad thing. This is still better than a grand majority of albums I’ve heard on the project so far, but it’s not without flaws either. My favorites on this one are “Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun” and my winner for best on the album goes to “Car Thief”. I’m not entirely sure what they were going for with the last 9 “B-Boy Bouillabaisse” tracks, they sound just like the other regular songs on the album. I don’t know exactly why they gave them a unique moniker, but they’re all pretty good. Again, not the most memorable, but good. Going to give this one a high 4.8, and I want to give it a 5 just because I love the Beastie Boys, but I just can’t do it. Don’t get it twisted though, this album still kicks a whole lot of ass.
Im less into this than ill communication or license to ill but it has that charm. These guys just love making music and it shows. They have alot of fun. That being said, its pretty messy. There are a ton of good tracks but there are also some stinkers or just songs that dont work. They change it up too often without any real rhyme or reason. One song to the next is just a wild swing sometimes. I did save a bunch of these tracks but there are for sure ones id much rather never hear again. But at th end of the day its better than alot of records. Even if it doesnt stick the landing every time. If your into eclectic shit then eclectic shit is what you get and enjoy it
t’s loose, weird and funny so that is why I probably like the Beastie Boys as much as I do. You catch new sounds every time. Just playful and free. It’s not an everyday listen, but when it clicks, it really clicks. Starting a Friday with it makes sense: it doesn’t just kick off the weekend, it opens it up.
Gotta say, I think this album gets a little too much hype. The singles on this album are great, and the whole album is a lot of fun. The beastie boys are amazing, but it always seems odd that this is known as their best work. They've got some other killer albums.
Classic. Felt like it was the pivotal album for them to show their artistry.
Layers upon layers in this album. With all the blended samples, at times dense and referential lyrics, and many songs not featuring consistent hooks it's easy to get overwhelmed. To catch everything would take going line by line. I can visualize it as a stereographic image: either you see the schooner or you get a migraine. That's also what it makes it an enjoyable listen. So much more depth than their earlier work. More risks were taken. There is more to discover. Summed up in their own lyrics: "The music washes over and you're one with the sound." "Expressing my aggressions through my schizophrenic verse words" Hey Ladies Shadrach
Pretty cool
very funky, not similar to my usual choice of music but it is fun, upbeat, interesting textures
maneirissimo este ja tinha ouvido gosto muito dessas musicas todo mundo odeia o chris ta ligado beats maneiros rimas maneiras capa maneira, um album maneiro
Simply great
Yea they're good I like them. 6.9/10
Not sure how this one is aging. Maybe 3.5?
I do have a copy of this album, but it's fallen off my musical radar and I hadn't heard it for > 25 years (probably longer). It's a symbol of a bygone time, an easier time, where artists absolutely fucking scraped every sample they could from absolute anywhere (before licensing and royalties were considered) and created musical masterpieces. Musically it's incredible, but I always found their rapping to be the one aspect that let it down. It's probably somewhere between 4 and 5 stars, I'll go with 4.
The sampling on this record is next level. Lyrics also ingenious. Not my personal favorite Beasties record though, even though it was certainly groundbreaking. So for that reason… a 4 for me.
I listened to the Beastie Boys when I was a kid, but kind of wrote them off as childish. But who cares? This album was fun.
It's for a very specific mood, but if you want to feel like you're riding on the 2000s NYC subway, the Beastie Boys is the best
I get why they were jealous of de la soul
original white boy swag. why are we complaining about the yelling?
the only white rappers I respect and like lol
This was a blast to go back and listen to. Beastie Boys have always been a band that I have liked, even if I didn't own a ton of their stuff. I knew a lot from this record, including Hey Ladies, Johnny Ryall, and Shake Your Rump, the last of which is one my top 2 or 3 favorite songs by them. I forgot about Egg Man, which is a super fun song to listen to. There were others as well that were great to check out, as I don't remember many of the rest. That said, this album has the unfortunate circumstance of being less than a month removed from me having listened to License to Ill, which I think is their best record. This just isn't quite as good, even if it is considered one of the landmark albums of hip hop. While I am squarely between 4 and 5 stars on this, much like I was with L2I, I am landing on this at 4 stars, as it doesn't quite hit as high as the raw energy of that record, even if it is a move towards a more sophisticated sound with stronger beats.
Was fun!
жека
In retrospect I dig this. I did not when it came out😂
Not my style of music but I can absolutely appreciate the lyrical genius and music
Standard beastie fare.
Did not disappoint
Humpty Dumpty was a big fat egg
more on the 3,5 side; I thought it got a little fatiguing towards the end
I enjoyed going through the lyrics while listening - a lot of "huh?" moments followed by a chuckle or a nod of respect to the wit. Also enjoyed the punk rock elements. Though the album isn't something I would go to for leisurely listening, it was quite a ride. 3.5 rounded up.
Initially thought this was crazy long, then was surprised at it being only 53 minutes, which is still long, but less so for 23 tracks. Looks like the numbering is not always consistent here. Anyway, let's get started! Listening notes: -The frat party vibe of this album shouldn't work as well as it does. But the call and response style here is infectious -The B-Boy bouillabaisse suite has some really cool stuff. Really elevates the whole album Review: I don't know that their style is really my kinda thing, but they really make it work. Jammy 80s hiphop. 4Stars
Damn, this album ripped. Loved it!
Hell yeah
Oooooooooh no. This album annoys me to no end. I know it’s objectively good but I can’t stand The Beastie Boys outside of their hits. It did a lot for sampling and that little Ramones sample is my favorite part of the whole thing, but god, it annoys me, so I’m taking off a star because they’re obnoxious.
Pretty much never listen to Beastie Boys which makes this so chill to listen to. One of the guys sounds like Mr. Meeseeks though, which is very distracting…
7.5/10 - Songs similar but good listen
I love this, though it won’t make it into a regular rotation for me. A lot of it has to do with high school nostalgia but also I love the exuberance. These songs make me want to bounce along with them. Favorites: Egg Man, Sounds of Science
Paul’s Boutique always has what you’re looking for.
I came in fully expecting to hate this album. Eighties rap, and considered their most “artistic” album? That’s a recipe for disaster. I was so very wrong, this album rocks! The musical production is great. It seems fully sample based but it still creates coherent and powerful song structures. The rapping is very strong and the songs have a lot of variety and flow. Great hip hop album four stars.
Não é muito o meu estilo mas reconheço que é bom!!
Didn’t realize the Eagles sample even existed on High Plains Drifter
Great album
Excellent album, I'd give it 4.5 if I could. Not my usual genre and vibe, but it has so much kinetic, playful momentum and creativity. Such density and variety of samples, yet they all feel purposeful.
Ok
liked shake your rump, egg man, the sounds of science, 3-minute rule, hey ladies, what comes around, get on the mic, stop that train favorite is shake your rump or hey ladies who doesnt like beastie boys..
4/5
POWERFUL. Samples and chaos collide, bound together by indomitable groove. Lotta depth, lotta fun!
I know it's a marvel of sampling genius and is jam-packed with allusions references and inside jokes--loads of fun--but I find it almost exhausting at times.
I had real fun listening to this. You can really feel the synergy between the MCs, who work amazingly well together to deliver some really comedic stuff. And with great backing tracks, coupled with what I imagine was really innovative sampling for the time, it's safe to say that my rump was shook.
Los chicos saben sobrellevar bases muy raras, sus timbres, ritmo y cadencia hacen el álbum muy entretenido. Está lleno de ambientación, bases cargadas pero con patrones fáciles de seguir. Merece más de una escucha para analizar bien las letras.
Actually a solid album, I was surprised
Classic
Australia mention Admittedly got 3/4 way through but will keep listening and so far big fan of the beats sometimes the amounts/scan of lyrics was jarring but that seems like a me problem
I was enjoying but slightly got distracted a then 5-Piece Chicken Dinner brought me right back what a song!
This was fun!
Lots of fun! Copyright laws should allow everyone to sample everything. Nothing means nothing.
I really really dislike the Beastie Boys. But I have to admit, the sampling and grooves on this record are cool. And it is incredibly creative and well produced. The rapping and lyrics get quite annoying after 50 minutes, but it’s a cool record. I wish I could just hear the no vocals version of this record.
good
Standouts Shake Your Rump Egg Man Hey Ladies Shadrach
classic
Enjoying this more than I thought I would Don’t think I could pick a song out of it that I loved but all together that album was decent
MILBB (Man I Love Beastie Boys). These guys really brought sampling to the forefront, and I love sampling! Beastie Boys albums are all about 3 white guys having a bunch of fun jumping around on a beat, and it's hard for anyone to hate that. It's not as good as Ill Communication, though.
Lots of bangers, lyrics more mature than the last album.
Yeah, this is just sick. I think I've only ever heard Shake Your Rump before. The texture! The production!
Love , loved the way the first song set up the album. Anticipation ooh. Was cut off short so will listen again
Onhan tää nyt klassikko, mut ei yllä ihan täysiin tähtiin. Beastie boysin taustabiitit on aina ollu tykkejä ja tätäkin levyä tullut luukuteltua aika paljon nuoruudessa
Ihan jeppiskamaa. Ei ollut tuttu levy, mutta kivasti svengasi työpäivän kylkeen!
Muistin että tää ois jo kolmas biisti ja poissi mut ei ollutkaan. Tää on kyl räväkkää menoo ja täysiä tykitellään läpi levyn ilman turhaa hengähdystaukoo. Linja pitää paremmin kun siin toisessa mikä kuunneltiin joskus syssymmällä. Vähän myös paulin putiikista kantautuu punk-sävyjä ja sit anarkismi on yleisesti läsnä. Eli hyvää koohausta ja täynnä enertsii ilman batterii. On kyl muutenkin tuttu levy jo ennestään, että ehkä se vähän myös nostaa fiilaria. Tai sitten ei.
I raised three sons and listened to alot of Beasties. License to Ill is still my favorite, but this one keeps my toes tapping too. Nothing too serious, easy to play along.
A joyous listen.
yeah
Mycket kul album! Ett minus är att man blir lite trött innan det är slut
THE ELECTRIC CITY! Grymma då gamechanging beats framförallt! Kanske egentligen är en trea till hur nice det är att lyssna på idag, men ger det en fyra för sin inverkan på så mycket som det här banade vägen för.
Har alltid charmats ihjäl av beastie boys. De har tramsbyxorna på, men vilka mästerliga beatmakare! Otroligt bra och smakfullt samplat och så jävla kul att lyssna efter små detaljer i kollagen. Letade sig in några sekunder Ramones bland all gammal funk, och anade en kortis av sweets ”ballroom blitz”. ”When I’m 64”-samplen i ”the sound of science” är genial. Känns som en revansch för medelklass-vit, livsbejakande och dekadent larv-rap efter den pissusla Malcolm McLaren-skivan. ”I’ve got more stories than jd’s got salinger” är en så ljuvligt kass line. ”I was makin records when you were suckin your mothers dick”. Va?
The flagrant disregard for copyright is legendary enough before even getting to the music
Yeah
This is kind of an overwhelming album, it goes in many different directions and the layering is very dramatic. It's maybe too much and too diverse to be a repeat listen but there's no denying it's electrifying and deserves to be returned to.
The amount of ADHD running through this record is astronomical. The influence on 100 Gecs cannot be overstated. I loved the backing tracks and samples! Such a feat of creativity. The vocal delivery and flow did get old after a while, but not enough to distract me from everything there is to love here. Early on in listening I was like, y’know this kind of sounds like Le Tigre. Then I remembered that Kathleen Hanna is married to Adam Horovitz.
Like the Beastie boys, like how they completely changed things up on this album, the growth is unreal, 4 Star
The samples are SO GOOD. How do you even come up with mixing all these different elements together??
The Beastie Boys have such a unique sound. I have never listened to one of their albums before, just what they play on the radio. My preference for rap leans towards what can be understood and this was very enjoyable to jam. The music videos were SO 90s.
Some shite on there but I mostly enjoyed it,
Solid baseline in Speed King, love it. Part way thru Flight of the Rat, he’s beating on that keyboard like its a rented mule lol. Most of the songs possess that signature distorded keyboard. Can see why that put them with led zepplin and black sabbath as the “unholy trio” with this album. Goes pretty hard.
I know some Beastie Boys but none of these songs. Some fun rhythms and tons of great samples. The bird is the word! Ballroom Blitz! Extremely unexpected banjo! Star Trek reference! Listened before? N Saved to library? Y Favorite track(s): Shake Your Rump, Johnny Ryall, The Sounds Of Science, Hey Ladies, Shadrach ⭐⭐⭐⭐: Really liked it. Saved a bunch of tracks.
Honestly theyre really weird i love it Havent finished the album but will defs go back to
Why’s this first song so damnnn quiet. Reminds me of the intro to my album that drives me fucking insane lol. Driving around in my CAR This album got me feelin like a STAR 3.5?
this shit was super cool to listen to i liked the sample flipping and it was hard not to get lit listening to it
This is enjoyable, atmospheric, nostalgic, and hugely influential. Unmistakably Beastie Boys, and despite it not containing any of their mega-hits is consistently very good.
Not the biggest Beastie Boys fan, but this was a fun listen.
My all time fav BBs record
Loads of variety, loads of fun.
This was a shocker. Granted, when I read it was the Sgt Peppers of hip hop, that probably already biased me more positively. But when this album came up I was immediately disappointed. I historically don’t like the Beastie Boys. This album surprised me, in a good way. I still Probably won’t seek out listening to the Beastie Boys per se, but I did enjoy this and might even listen again!
goooood
Perhaps the best Belen of rock, Lo fi and rap, this from a guy (me) who really can’t abide most rap. So take that with a grain. Either way, this record proves that BB’s were real.
Liked it. Theres nothing like Beastie Boys in the industry and that's what makes their style unique IMO. 4/5
Ended up looping this by accident. Fun!
I like recognising the samples but not much of it is music I'd pop on again.
The second half is a lot better when they're allowed to sample some great songs.
Good eclectic mix of samples, lots of shouting vocals and funky riffs. Some good humour, this was a lot more enjoyable than expected. I'd never heard this stuff at all, and will be listening again and possibly deep diving into more of their material properly
This was an unbelievably fun album to listen to! The sampling and music writing was incredible. The "singing" is so incredibly unique, you know who it is right away. The lyrics are awesomely awful but fit the goofiness of everything so well. Probably the only rap album I will ever enjoy.
Dope. 4/5.
The Beastie Boys try to actually rap this time, and its good???? Them white boys were moving different back then...
8.5/10
Classic. Full of those charming lyrical verses and tons of excellent sampling. Really loved it
4.5- really good album. It only loses out on a 5 from me b/c of that last 12 minutes.
Good stuff, diverse and fun.
15/11/2025 For some reason, I've got a lot of time for the Beastie Boys. Like them a lot. Spotify listeners: 7.4 million
great album, everything works well together
good
Despite the lack of major hits, aside from Shake Your Rump and Hey Ladies, this album is catchy and easy to groove to from beginning to end. 4/5
I can never tell which Beastie Boy is on the mic. Incredible sampling
Awesome beats. Can appreciate there wasn't really anything like it before. The rapping was OK but I did struggle to make out some of it.
It's among their best
sehr schöner old school saftige bässe MIKE ON THE BEAT
I liked the style of this album. I'm a fan of the Beasties, and even though this didn't have their biggest hits, I like the production on the album.
Classicone, ce l'ho fisico. Non il mio prefe ma bello.
My kind of rap.
4.0 Hip Hop classic from three Jewish boys from the Bronx. Timeless and classic.
Great use of sampling - the "shouting" helps me get stuff done!
Sick vibes
This is one of the big beasties albums though not sure I've ever heard it. Definitely is a prime example of them. Generally like the vibe though not sure I recognised any of the tracks. Felt like they became a bit more polished than the debut which felt even more tongue in cheek. Didn't wow me but it was good, 3.5.
Heard this before and I know it's considered an important album. I don't think it's as good as Ill communication though. At the risk of sounding like an old man, on quite a lot of tracks I can't understand what they're saying, and I want to hear the vocals! There's some great sampling though. I liked egg man and hey ladies the best I think. 3.5
não achei que fosse gostar tanto assim
this feels like the origin of 2000's movies with white middle school gang music
A rough around the edges kitchen sink album with tons of charm. Honestly just sounds like they were having tons of fun making this. Another solid 4
Habe mit 16/17 richtig viel Beastie Boys gehört, aber nie dieses Album. Das Album hat den Drive einer Punk-Band, groovt wie Sau, super kurzweilig. Richtiges starkes Jonglieren mit Samples. Klingt so, als hätten die Drei richtig Spaß beim Aufnehmen gehabt. Finde die Lyrics überwiegend echt witzig, teilweise sind sie schlecht gealtert. Hat mich gleich beim ersten Hören sehr begeistert, werde mich mehr damit beschäftigen. Eventuell in Zukunft 5 Sterne.
Not my cup of tea, but I can't deny that Beastie Boys do their thing. It's interesting and all over the place but still has a coherent identity with interesting themes and ideas and I have a lot of respect for that.
Yay!
Shout at me more, Beastie Boys
Good vibes all around. Feels like a dancr party in the 89s/90s
They get a lot better after this album, but the roots of their sound start to emerge in this album. Love all the samples!
Probably the most I've ever enjoyed listening to this album. The production is very consistent and fun and obviously way ahead of its time. And a huge leap creatively and artistically from their debut. However, this is just never gonna be my favorite beastie boys album it lacks the great singles that other albums have and I'd rather have a little more chaos and adventurous sounds to have those banger singles rather than this album which is tighter and more consistent but lacks singles and is less quirky and all over the place. Important for their catalogue and important for rap in general and I kinda get why it's everyone else's favorite but it won't ever be mine.
A classic, old-school hip-hop album. I like the aggression in the Beastie Boys and this album in particular. It doesn't beat around the bush with its anger, directed at a plethora of things. It was concise and packed a lot of power, however it missed the peak moment taking the album to an absolute top rating. 4/5
I find the beastie boys' vocals to be a little challenging for extended periods. I'm definitely not alone in this, but I also don't feel that it's insurmountable. Here's the thing: this album is brilliantly produced, the sampling is unreal and the songs are all really well written. Any one of them on their own is punchy and interesting and a great listen. - it's just that a whole album of it is difficult to get through. On the other hand, the album as a whole is also quite good and has a tonne of hidden depth, and I feel like if I took the time to listen to this again a couple of times I'd get used to it and really enjoy finding everything that's layered in there. As such, it doesn't really feel fair to mark this one down for those vocals... They're a strong stylistic choice that I actually really respect, even if it'd take me a bit of getting used to. Plus 5 piece chicken dinner caught me completely off-guard while driving and I almost had to pull over. Great album.
fun, a bit dated with the material (a lot of hip hop is not PC, but this was so in kind of a cringey way) and the B-boy bouillabaisse at the end was probably the best set of songs
Love the Beasties. Nobody else would put samples from both Psycho and Jaws on a track about eggs. B-Boy Bouillabaisse is such a fun trip, too.
Great Songs: Shake Your Rump, Hey Ladies, Car Thief, Shadrach Good Songs: To All the Girls, Johnny Ryell, Egg Man, The Sounds of Science, Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun, What Goes Around, Ask for Janice Mid Songs: High Plain's Drifter, 3-Minute Rule Bad Songs: 5-Piece Chicken Dinner
Paul’s boutique is a fun listen overall. Time piece for sure, and a classic beastie boys sound. Looking down the barrel of a gun is nyhc for sure, especially after the first beastie boys release.
The epitome of the boys will always be LTI, but this has its own charms.
My favorite Beastie Boys album and "Car Thief" is my favorite Beastie Boys song. A sampling fan's paradise. Favorite track: Car Thief
Pretty great from start to finish and amazing how many samples they use without sounding like the original songs at all.
Pretty cool hip hop
Humpty dumpty was a big fat egg !
Well, my recent 1001 run keeps on going strong…and a second Beastie Boys album within a week! Another album which is a lot of fun and deserves to be on the list. Johnny Ryall is brilliant, and I love the Beatles sample from The End used in The Sounds of Science.
It’s taken me a long time to understand Beastie Boys having only liked the singles previously, but I feel like I’m finally getting them. Sample-based music is an art form I’m still not fully onboard with, but I get how amazing and playful the production is here. Glad to finally join the hype train.
Sample Heaven
Love it 4/5
I’m a high (high) plains (plains) drifta (drifta)…
i just know this album was revolutionary for white boys everywhere
A pretty good album by all accounts, though there's a certain "je ne sais quoi" missing for me.
Musically, this is the tits. Rap-wise... meh. I mean, it's fun, don't get me wrong. They're having a blast and it's infectious. But their flow is the same for every song. And while I like their references, there's not a lot of meat there. Also, I can only take so much of their vocal timbre. But it's good time, and it's a masterpiece of sampling, and It's literally the kind of record no one can afford to make any more.
Hard to beat The Boys! I listened to this twice, including the bonus content. 4.5
Once I got over the style (the parody by Morris Minor and the Majors kept popping into my head) I really enjoyed this. I wasn't really into it at the time but I can appreciate the innovation.
A classic
Aguanten los beastie boys, no supera al álbum Comunications pero es un álbum que muestra la escencia de la banda. Discazo para mi, te remonta bien a los 90s y toda la movida del hip hop pero le agregan ese plus de ritmos que no es solo un grupo de raperitos y te hace mover la cabeza al ritmo PD1: NOSE pero también me hacen siempre a acordar a este against the machine, no se si será la forma que grabaron los discos o que, desmiéntanme grupo PD: escuchen Sabotage
After loving Licensed To Ill when it came out, by the time Paul’s Boutique was released I’d kinda lost interest. It didn’t make an impact on me at the time, but that was due to me having less interest in what they were doing. Retrospectively, this still took a while. I think that was mainly due to me being more into their albums that followed this. Looking back now though, I can appreciate this. Energetic and fun, although definitely of its time it still works. A little bloated, but an easy 4.
A true gem from these guys. An album of theirs that I probably overlook when I go to listen to the Beastie Boys as I usually go for their debut or their 90s work first. I often forget how much fun they are. 4/5
Bon mix expérimental de plusieurs genres, énormément de samples, de guitares et de percus grasses, et un surplus d'énergie bienvenu. Pas tout le temps ce que j'aime, mais globalement une bonne découverte
Forgot how great this album was.
🤘🤘
HELLOOOOOO BROOKLYYYYNNNNNN I listened to this passively which maybe wasn’t the ideal choice, sorry to kill the perfect 5 y’all 😂 Liked the B-Boy Bouillabaisse tracks more than the front half! Was ready to give this a 3 but I’ll bump up
Solid beats + solid flow = solid ranking
The gulf in musical quality between the comedy/rock/rap cheese of License To Ill and the genre-transforming sample sophistication of Paul's Boutique often makes my brain hurt. Possibly the coolest three guys in the music biz, it's hard to criticise them at all really - they manage to pull off not seeming to take anything too seriously without being self-righteous pricks, while still making great music. No mean feat. Is Paul's Boutique their best album? Probably, possibly. Is it my personal favourite? No, but it's up there, and deserves the praise it now routinely commands.
Song a little too similar one to another, but very groovy experience.
Here's how I would rank Beastie Boys albums: 1. Ill Communication 2. Check Your Head 3. Hello Nasty 4. Paul's Boutique 5. Hot Sauce Committee Part Two 6. To the 5 Boroughs 7. Licensed to Ill 8. The Mix-Up Fun fact from Beastie Boys Book: Paul's Boutique was a real store and you hear the store's phone number on the album. However, they went out of business shortly after release. Adam Yauch had the presence of mind to acquire the number. The voicemail you hear on Check Your Head--Hey, yo, Paul, this is Al, you can kiss my ass...--comes from a message left at that number.
I think the first songs are ok, the songs in the middle are better
the absolutely wild breadth of samples in this album are honestly mindblowing - over 105 samples on the album, 24 in the last song, and an incredible combination of genres and sound to create a wonderfully complex album that was instrumental to the development of sampledelia and other samples (i.e. the ATL trap influences from "Hello Brooklyn" is crazy)
Love it
At first I thought: who are these white kids screaming at me. But then I got it. This is brilliant.
Loved it
A bit weaker than Ill Communication, but it still has great rhymes and great vibes.
The concept isn't hard to grasp but delivers good results. Good beats, humour, infectious hooks and you got something that won't bore. Doesn't have any of the hits but it doesn't need those to get me moving.
When I got this album I thought, “Fuck, not the Beastie Boys!” I was wrong. “Licensed to Ill” came out when I was in high school and I really didn’t have much respect for the taste of the kids who were into the album. This opinion was reinforced later when the media dubbed this frat-rap. What could be lamer, right? Again, I was wrong. This is among the more interesting hip-hop albums I’ve heard. Reading up on its innovations and later influences, I was even more impressed. Here is a band who many, including me, dismissed out of hand as imposters, having the courage to innovate rather than simply playing it safe. The Beastie Boys play their own jazz-funk instrumentals (actually playing instruments is personally appreciated), then intertwining samples from original pieces. The result is a really interesting soundscape. This is more than beats, it is genuinely interesting music (with great beats too, of course). It is easy to see why many critics now consider this to be among the most important hip-hop albums of all time, it is remarkable that it was creates by three white kids who were openly mocked by so many. I stand corrected. I will be revisiting Paul's Boutique again in the future. It was a hell of a lot of fun to listen to and I'm generally not a big fan of the genre.
In my book, The Beastie Boyz so synonymous with NYC that I have to take them like I take in the Ciry when I visit: fully and only for 3-4 days at a time. I enjoy every second I'm in it, but I'm ready to move on to something less intense after a few days.
Paul’s Boutique is a huge step forward for the Beasties. If they’d have done LTI 2 I think it would have cast them into a corner that they might not have been able to get out of. Instead they showed the world that they were innovators who followed their noses and instincts and made something that was at the forefront of hip hop, moving away from a more simplistic use of samples to creating dense compositions from multiple samples in a way that just can’t happen now due to legalities and cost. They weren’t the first but they did it in their own way. Vocally the BB hallmarks are still there but the style was almost proto 90s with multi syllabic rhymes and dense references to pop culture which wove around the music with their typical intertwined delivery. Paul’s Boutique isn’t perfect but it does thrive in its own chaos.